The growth of online estate agents is not just down to the fact that they save vendors and landlords many thousands of pounds when compared with traditional high street estate agents.
Selling your house online through a digital-only agent is a largely satisfying experience, according to the majority of online estate agents reviews.
Here, Property Division picks out 18 digital-only estate agents, some of which also act as online letting agents, to see whether a private house sale is a viable option.
Our research involved looking at websites providing online estate agents’ comparison service by publishing user reviews of what the internet-only property firms offer. All the excerpts we pick out were published between June 2016 and August 2019.
18 Best Online Estate Agents
1. Yopa
2. Visum
3. Urban
4. Tepilo
5. Settled
6. Sell My Home
7. Purplebricks
8. myonlineestateagent
9. I am The Agent
10. House Simple
11. House Network
12. Hatched
13. Esale
14. Emoov
15. easyProperty
16. 121 Move
17. Propertynest
18. Property Solvers
1. Yopa Online Agents
When it launched in 2015 Your Online Property Agent promised to make the process of selling your home affordable, simple and transparent. They are a fixed fee agency that give sellers the best of both worlds: the reassurance of a dedicated local estate agent to guide you through your sale, combined with the cost-saving efficiency and 24/7 access of an online service.
User review
The local consultant was positive and made some great suggestions about marketing. Before long we had viewings and an offer. And all at less than a local estate agent would charge.
Click here to read more user reviews.
To book your free online valuation with YOPA. click HERE
2. Visum
Launched in 2004, Visum says that as the UK’s first online letting and estate agent renting or selling your house quickly is what we do best. It backs up its claim by advertising rental and sales properties on all the country’s leading property portals.
Visum Estate Agents User review
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3. Urban
Established in 2008, Urban says all its customers benefit from a full estate agency service, backed by five-star customer service and professionally qualified staff, 7 days a week, 360 days a year.
User review
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4. Tepilo
Set up by TV personality Sarah Beeny in 2009 and relaunched as an online-only estate agent in October 2013, Tepilo says it has a team of trained property experts and an easy to use website available 24/7.
Tepilo Reviews
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5. Settled
With the exception of carrying out viewings, Settled says it provides all of the services you might expect from a traditional agent plus the option to pay up front or later.
User review
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6. Sell My Home
This online estate agent might not do viewings, but Sell My Home – which was founded in 2013 – says other than that you have a full service agency working for you.
User review
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7. Purplebricks
Calling itself the world’s first 24/7 estate agency, Purplebricks – which launched in 2014 – says its dedicated local experts will provide you with a professional valuation and offer their advice and expertise, all with no obligation.
User review
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8. myonlineestateagent.com
This online estate and letting agent was launched in 2010. The site says it provides the same service as a high street agent, the only difference is you show people around your property.
User review
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9. I am The Agent
The online estate and letting agent’s website says it has enjoyed more than five years’ of success and its mission is “to be transparent, without any hidden fees, allowing you to be in control whilst we are on hand to assist when needed”.
User review
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10. House Simple
Operating for eight years, this site provides users with an online dashboard area. Vendors can monitor the progress of their sale by seeing live viewing requests, communicate with the viewer through the online messaging system and receive feedback and notifications of offers.
User review
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11. House Network
Established in 2004, this digital agent’s website says: “Our local experts will always take the time to personally visit you for a free in-home valuation.” Other services include an online chat facility and a dedicated account.
User review
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12. Hatched
Set up in 2006, the site says it “employs locally based property professionals across England and Wales, who’ll act as your trusted advisor”. It adds that flexible pricing is on offer, including a no sale, no fee option.
User review
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13. Esale
This Yorkshire-based digital business, which was established in 2010, boasts it has no hidden fees or charges and offers to refund vendors who pay upfront and later decide they were not happy with Esale’s service.
User review
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14. Emoov
Providing a full estate agency service – including photos, floorplans, viewings arranged, offers negotiated and property sales progressed to completion – this digital business has been operating since 2011.
User review
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15. easyProperty
Launched by the group behind EasyJet in 2015, this online easte and letting agency has round-the-clock support as well as local property experts throughout England and Wales.
User review
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16. 121 Move
Trading since 2006, this online estate agent provides floorplans with room measurements, professional photographs a free property valuation report and web portal advertising. Options include a For Sale board, Energy Performance Certificate and premium listings.
User review
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17. Propertynest
With over 50 years of collective industry experience, this online estate and letting agency offer properties to rent and sell throughout Wetherby, Leeds, Harrogate and surrounding areas.
User review
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18. Property Solvers Quick Estate Agency
Property Solvers’ quick estate agency operates differently to many others in that they focus on getting their clients firm offers in under 28 days. For them, it’s not about over-pricing properties to win business but getting sellers a realistic price within the shortest timeframe.
What’s more, there are no tie-in contracts and they won’t charge you a fee until the property sale is completed.
Click here to read more reviews
More than 5% of the 1.3 million residential property sales that completed in 2015/16 were sold through online estate agents, with home owners paying from less than £300 to over £1000. This compares very well with traditional bricks-and-mortar estate agents, which typically charge 2-3% of the sale fee plus VAT.
Unlike traditional estate agents, however, the best deals are often reserved for sellers who are prepared to pay up front.
It should also be remembered that many online estate agents base their charges on the services on offer. When you are embarking on a private house sale, it is advisable to ensure your online estate agent provides the following…
- In-depth valuation based on the property’s age, location and current market conditions.
- Professional photographs, a floorplan and an Energy Performance Certificate
- A For Sale board
- Exposure on third-party house sale portals, such as Rightmove and Zoopla. Beware that online estate agents are barred from listing your home on OnTheMarket
- An account allowing you to manage viewings and receive offers.
Some vendors are happy to handle every aspect of their property sale, but those that are not are advised to check whether their online estate agent provides…
- A local property agent to handle viewings
- Online contact 24 hours a day
- Help with drawing up a memorandum of sale and monitoring conveyancing through to exchange and completion
The best online estate agents are proving popular with a generation of vendors who have grown up booking holidays, arranging insurance and managing their finances online.
And with a growing percentage of people now renting their homes privately, internet-only property businesses that are also online letting agents will take a growing share of the market in years to come.
